Monday, June 28, 2010

Just taste it, please?


Hubby and I have been beaming like proud grandparents. This is mama Mockingbird on the right and baby on the left. We watched the parents build the nest and feed their young. The two fluffy little fledglings were forced out of the nest yesterday. We saw mama coax them to the overhead wire where they teetered and squealed, Help!

Bill has been tossing his cooked egg yolks into the backyard each morning, and the mother and father now fly right to him whenever he opens the backdoor. He says just think of the protein the baby birds are getting, better than a garden worm. Oh the simple joys of watching nature. The mother and father both feed the babies; they peck a piece of the egg and fly up to the tree and feed the little beggars.

Today Bill tossed a yucky strawberry into the yard. I heard an awful racket. Usually it's the mockingbirds chasing the blackbirds. But the squawking was continuous. I walked out and saw that mama bird had the babies on the ground next to the strawberry chattering at both to 'take a bite'. She was showing them how to get their own, but they refused and sat there with their mouths open, pleading,"Feed me. Pleaseeeee." Like any good mother, she encouraged, chided, got upset, flew away, came back, chattered some more right in their faces, "If you want to eat, take a bite!" The babies screamed, no-no-no! But finally one of them took a nibble. It was like watching a human infant eating something tangy for the first time. It shook its head and chirped, "Eewww, this is not a worm (egg)!" The other bird wouldn't even try. Mother was exasperated and flew to the fence. The one baby took another taste test, decided it wasn't so bad and ate another bite and another, then with its tummy full, it flew up to the fence next to mama. The littlest squawker sat there pleading with its mouth wide open. Mama finally gave in, flew back and fed the little dickens. That strawberry was gone in no time, and soon the fledglings will be too. My honey will continue to toss them his egg yolks and keep them fattened up.

Observing these birds confirmed that parents of all species have some of the same problems when it comes to their offspring.

12 comments:

Lisa Ricard Claro said...

LOL So true! My cousin sent me a link to YouTube video showing a mama otter teaching her babies to swim. So heartwarming to watch; mama otter was so patient, even when the little guy kept trying to climb out of the water.

Your hubby sounds very softhearted. :)

Susan said...

Hi Linda...That was a cute post. I can just see those birdies. Why doesn't your husband eat the egg yolks? That's the best part of the egg to me! ha! I'd rather eat the yolk than the white. Susan

Linda O'Connell said...

Lisa,
My friend used to breed Malamutes and I could sit and watch those teeny puppies for hours. Hats off to moms of all species. Yes, hubby is soft-hearted.

Linda O'Connell said...

Susan,
Hubby loves egg yolks; they don't love him...cholesterol. I love nature!

Bookie said...

I don't think I have seen a mockingbird. I assocaite it with rural areas rather than cities. I will have to read up on them. Sounds like they are interesting birds and this was interesting post!

Donna Volkenannt said...

How funny - and great timing. Last evening we met our nephew Jim from Florida, who is in town at SLU's hospital training in the trauma center before heading for a tour in Afghanistan to treat wounded soldiers and civilians. Anyway, we took him, along with the grandkids, out to dinner last night on The Hill. Zia's food is great, but such large portions. The kids and I brought doggie (or maybe I should call them birdie) bags home. I'm hoping to get them to eat the leftovers for lunch today.
Ciao (or should I say Chow?)!
Donna

Linda O'Connell said...

Hi Donna,
I had to laugh,CHOW & "birdie bag". You do read my blog! One of my student's dad is also a medic headed to Afghanistan. My prayers go out to all of them, War is senseless.

Pat Wahler said...

Love the images in your post! While I enjoy watching birds, I've found mockingbirds to be pretty intense and often testy little critters. I've seen them dive bomb other animals for no apparent reason and appear quite territorial. Your mockers seem much kinder and gentler than mine!

Pat
www.critteralley.blogspot.com

Linda O'Connell said...

This family is very friendly although territorial when the black birds come calling; otherwise, they know not to bite the hand that feeds them, hubby's.

Tammy said...

I love that stern look on Mama's face! That's a "because I said so" look if I've ever seen one!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful story!

BECKY said...

Ohhh...what a sweet story!! and sweet hubby!!